Cryoprobe construction

ABSTRACT

A cryoprobe particularly for the low temperature treatment of body organs particularly for use in body cavities such as adjacent a bladder comprises an elongated hollow shaft having an interior portion for the conduction of a cooling medium to an outer front probe portion and with an insulation formed around the coolant conduit and which also includes an observation optics which is mounted on the hollow shaft for viewing along the interior to the front portion of the probe. The front portion of the probe is disposed at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the hollow shaft. The hollow shaft is advantageously of oval shape and a hollow optics tube is mounted to extend through the oval shape shaft at the top portion thereof over concentrically arranged hollow tubes for the passage and return passage of cooling medium. The device also includes an outer hollow oval tube having a horizontal major axis which is extended on each side of the hollow shaft for the transmission of a scavenging agent in the space or channel between the outer hollow tube and the shaft.

United States Patent Zimmer Nov. 11, 1975 4] CRYOPROBE CONSTRUCTION 57ABSTRACT [75] Inventor: Hildebrand Zimmer, Ahrensburg, A cryoprobeparticularly for the low temperature G r a y treatment of body organsparticularly for use in body cavities such as adjacent a bladdercomprises an elon- [73] Asslgnee' Dragerwerk Germany gated hollow shafthaving an interior portion for the [22] Filed: May 24, 1974 conductionof a cooling medium to an outer front probe portion and with aninsulation formed around [21] Appl' 473194 the coolant conduit and whichalso includes an observation optics which is mounted on the hollow shaftfor [30] Foreign Application P i it D t viewing along the interior tothe front portion of the May 24, 1974 Germany 2326507 Probe- The frontPonion of Probe is disposed at an angle to the longitudinal axis of thehollow shaft. The 52 US. Cl 128/7; 128/303.l hollow Shaft isadvantageously 0f Oval shape and a 51 int. cl. A61B 1/30; A61B 17/36 10WOptics tube is mounted to extend through the Oval 58 Field of Search128/6, 7, 303.1 shape Shaft at the top Portion thereof OverConcentrically arranged hollow tubes for the passage and return 5References Cited passage of cooling medium. The device also includes anouter hollow oval tube having a horizontal major UNITED STATES PATENTSaxis which is extended on each side of the hollow shaft 2,038,393 4/1936Wappler 138/7 for the transmission of a scavenging agent the space 2x32?or channel between the outer hollow tube and the 53321043 11/1950waua'''III'.......QIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII.... 128/7 Shaft 3,536,075 10/1970Th0mas.'Jr. l28/303.l

Primary Eramz'ner-Channing L. Pace Attorney, Agent, or FirmMcGlew andTuttle 9 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures US. Patent Nov. 11, 1975 CRYOPROBE,CONSTRUCTION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention Thisinvention relates in general to construction of a cryoprobe and inparticular to a new and useful cryoprobe which is adapted to be insertedinto a body cavity for effecting a low temperature treatment of variousbody conditions and which includes a hollow shaft for conducting acoolant to a front probe end which is oriented at an angle to the shaft.

2. Description of the Prior Art The invention is particularly applicableto the low temperature treatment of areas in the body located incavities particularly bladders where it is desired to freeze variousportions of the bladder in order to effect a predetermined treatment.Cryoprobes of this general type are known. A difficulty in the use ofthe known equipment however is that the optical viewing systems forviewing the place of treatment in the body'cavity must be mounted sothat they are located relatively far away from the place of treatment inorder to prevent a fog formation at the freezing end of the probe. Insuch a position a shaft of the probe which is immediately adjacenttheobjects will considerably limit the field of sight.

SUMMARY. OF THE INVENTION The invention provides a cryoprobe for the lowtemperature treatment of various portions of the body particularlybladders which comprises a hollow shaft which contains insulationagainst low temperature and which provides amounting for an observationoptics at the rear end thereof which permits displacement of the opticsfor view adjustment. A front portion of the probe is capable of beingcooled and the arrangement of all the parts is such that there is noimpairment of sight during the low temperature treatment.

With the inventive arrangement the front portion of the probe isdisposed at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the probe shaft. Insuch an arrangement the optics is permanently and'sufficiently spacedfrom the cooled tip of the probe so that even during the freezetreatment the sight is not hindered by any fog formation on the opticsand in fact the optics are arranged so that they will be adequatelyprotected.

The angle formed by the front portion of the probe with the longitudinalaxis of the shaft is advantageously to 40 and preferably 30. Byproviding such an angular range there are substantially no difficultiesin the introduction of the probe into the body cavity for example intothe bladder to be treated while the optics are retracted.

It is also useful to provide an arrangement wherein only the tip of thedeflected front portion of the probe is capable of being cooled. Such ameasure assures that no part of the optics is located immediatelyadjacent the cooled zones.

The elimination of the sight hindrances in the use of cryoprobes of thistype is further improved by providing the probe with a channel whichserves to supply scavenging agents. The possibility therefore is givento scavenge the treatment zone during the freezing and so for example tokeep it clear of blood so that optimal sight possibilities are given tothe physician. The scavenging means may comprise an arrangement whereinthe blood may be sucked off with the aid of a catheter independently ofthe probe or in accordance with another feature of the invention bymeans of another scavenger means channel formation on the probe which isconnected to an exhaustion device. The channels are advantageouslyprovided at the front end which enters the body cavity with a screen orperforations.

Accordingly it is an object of the invention to provide a cryoprobewhich includes a hollow shaft carrying an optics tube with opticsmounted thereon for view adjustment movement in which it has a frontportion which is disposed at an angle to the shaft forming a probe, andwherein the shaft carries means for conducting a coolant medium out tothe probe and insulation surrounding the means and also advantageouslyincludes separate channels which extend to the vicinity of the probe andwhich terminate in screened openings at the probe location.

A further object of the invention is to provide a cryoprobe which issimple in design, rugged in construction and economical to manufacture.

For an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference ismade to the following description of a typical embodiment thereof asillustrated-in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a cryoprobe constructed inaccordance with the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a section taken along the line IIII of FIG. 1.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to thedrawings in particular the invention embodied therein comprises acryoprobe generally designated 1 .which includes a hollow oval shapedshaft 2 having a major axis vertical which is connected at one end to ahandle portion 3 and which includes a front end portion 4 having a probetip 5. The probe tip 5 is adapted to be cooled for example by a coolingmedium such as by a low boiling point liquid which is directed into anevaporation chamber formed at the interior of the probe tip 5.

In accordance with the invention the hollow shaft 2 provides a space foran elongated guide tube 7 forming a surrounding protection for a hollowoptics tube 8 which is concentrically arranged therein and which extendsat the front end outwardly from the shaft 2 and terminates in a viewingarea end 8a which may be oriented directly above the probe 5. The rearend is provided with viewing optics 8b which are mounted so that theymay be displaced for view adjustment when aligned with a persons eye 20as indicated in FIG. 1.

In accordance with a feature of the invention the optics tube 8 ismounted in the guide tube 7 so that it may be rotated and shiftedaxially in order that the viewing area end 8a be properly oriented inrespect to the body tissue which is being treated.

In accordance with a further feature of the invention an outer covertube 22 which is of oval shape and which has a major axis which is onthe horizontal engages over each side of the shaft 2 and it formsscavening passage means hollow passages or channels 9 and 10 with therespective sides thereof. These hollow passages 9 and 10 areadvantageously connectable at the rear end to evacuation means such asan evacuation pump and their front ends are provided with seive openingsor screens 11 in the vicinity of the probe for the purpose of conductingaway blood and other materials of the body during the operation. One ormore connection fittings generally designated 12 having control valves13 are connected to the channels 9 and 1.0 also to an inner coolantsupply tube 14 which is arranged concentrically within an outer coolantreturn tube 15 within a vacuum jacket tube 16 below the insulated tube7. The coolant is supplied in through the supply tube l4 through anevacuation chamber in the probe tip 5 and is then returned in the spacebetween the tube 14 and 15. The vacuum space 17 is left between theouter coolant tube 15 and the vacuum jacket 16 and provides a lowtemperature insulation. The arrangement is such that the optics in thetube 8 are also protected against the affect of the low temperature.

In the space between the tube 7 and 16 the shaft provides sufficientarea for the passage of electrical cables 18 for heating andthermocouple elements which are provided along the shaft 2 and in theprobe tip 5. The handle 3 is provided with a coupling 19 which providesa connection means for the electrical supply lines as well as otherconnecting elements if desired.

The channels 9 and 10 are of half circular cross section whichcomplements the oval cross section of the shaft 2 so that the overallcross section of the device is substantially circular.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown anddescribed in detail to illustrate the application of the principles ofthe invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodiedotherwise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

1. A cryoprobe for low temperature treatment to be formed in bodycavities, particularly in the bladder, comprising an elongated hollowshaft having insulation therein against low temperature, an observationoptics mounted in said shaft for displaceable movement, said shafthaving a front portion which is disposed at an angle to the longitudinalaxis of said shaft and which forms a probe, means for cooling said probeand scavening passage means extending along said shaft and having anopening adjacent said probe.

2. A cryoprobe according to claim 1, wherein the angle formed by thefront portion of said shaft with said shaft is from 20 to 40 andpreferably 3. A cryoprobe according to claim 1 wherein only the tip ofsaid front portion is capable of being cooled.

4. A cryoprobe construction comprising a hollow tubular shaft portion,an optics tube extending through said shaft portion and having a frontend extending outwardly therefrom with a view area, said optics tubebeing movably mounted within said shaft tube, said tubular shaft portionhaving a front portion disposed at an angle to the axis of said shafttube with a tip area forming a probe, a coolant supply tube and acoolant return tube located within said shaft tube for respectivelyconducting and returning a coolant to said probe, and scavenging passagemeans adjacent said tubular shaft portion for scavening agentsterminating in openings adjacent said probe.

5. A cryoprobe according to claim 4 said passage means including atleast one tubular element surrounding at least a portion of said shafttube and defining a channel for evacuation of body substancesterminating adjacent said probe in openings for receiving suchsubstances,

6. A cryoprobe according to claim 4, wherein an outer tube extendsoutwardly from each side of said shaft and defines an interiorevacuation channel forming said passage means along at least a portionof the length of said shaft each channel terminating in screenedopenings, one serving to supply and the other to evacuate the scavengingagent.

7. A cryoprobe according to claim 6, wherein said optics tube isarranged within an insulation tube within said shaft and is axially androtatably movable in respect thereto.

8. A cryoprobe according to claim 4, wherein said shaft tube is of ovalcross section with a major axis vertical, said outer tube being of ovalcross section with a major axis horizontal and being arranged on eachside of said hollow shaft, the overall cross section being substantiallycircular.

9. A cryoprobe according to claim 4, wherein said hollow shaft includesan upper tube carrying said optics, said coolant supply and coolantreturn tubes for the cooling medium being below said optics tube, and aspace between said tubes for the pssage of electrical cable for a heateradjacent said cryoprobe.

1. A cryoprobe for low temperature treatment to be formed in bodycavities, particularly in the bladder, comprising an elongated hollowshaft having insulation therein against low temperature, an observationoptics mounted in said shaft for displaceable movement, said shafthaving a front portion which is disposed at an angle to the longitudinalaxis of said shaft and which forms a probe, means for cooling said probeand scavening passage means extending along said shaft and having anopening adjacent said probe.
 2. A cryoprobe according to claim 1,wherein the angle formed by the front portion of said shaft with saidshaft is from 20* to 40* and preferably 30*.
 3. A cryoprobe according toclaim 1 wherein only the tip of said front portion is capable of beingcooled.
 4. A cryoprobe construction comprising a hollow tubular shaftportion, an optics tube extending through said shaft portion and havinga front end extending outwardly therefrom with a view area, said opticstube being movably mounted within said shaft tube, said tubular shaftportion having a front portion disposed at an angle to the axis of saidshaft tube with a tip area forming a probe, a coolant supply tube and acoolant return tube located within said shaft tube for respectivelyconducting and returning a coolant to said probe, and scavenging passagemeans adjacent said tubular shaft portion for scavening agentsterminating in openings adjacent said probe.
 5. A cryoprobe according toclaim 4 said passage means including at least one tubular elementsurrounding at least a portion of said shaft tube and defining a channelfor evacuation of body substancess terminating adjacent said probe inopenings for receiving such substances.
 6. A cryoprobe according toclaim 4, wherein an outer tube extends outwardly from each side of saidshaft and defines an interior evacuation channel forming said passagemeans along at least a portion of the length of said shaft each channelterminating in screened openings, one serving to supply and the other toevacuate the scavenging agent.
 7. A cryoprobe according to claim 6,wherein said optics tube is arranged within an insulation tube withinsaid Shaft and is axially and rotatably movable in respect thereto.
 8. Acryoprobe according to claim 4, wherein said shaft tube is of oval crosssection with a major axis vertical, said outer tube being of oval crosssection with a major axis horizontal and being arranged on each side ofsaid hollow shaft, the overall cross section being substantiallycircular.
 9. A cryoprobe according to claim 4, wherein said hollow shaftincludes an upper tube carrying said optics, said coolant supply andcoolant return tubes for the cooling medium being below said opticstube, and a space between said tubes for the pssage of electrical cablefor a heater adjacent said cryoprobe.